Printing device and flat stackable elements



Jan. 5,

Filed Feb. 14, 1957 1960 w. RITZERFELD Erm. 2,919,640

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS l1 Sheets-Sheet 1 541- l l f wm '3 s F g 'we u K J/ F/Lq. 6E gfludmnH i '3 g av semiajaoq X f4 4 .WILHELM RITZERFELD GERHARD RITZERFELD upf.

Jan. 5, 1960 w. RrrzERFELD ETAL 2,919,640

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 14, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 xxxxxxxrxxxxx OOOOOAQOOOOOOOO .fm/enten' WILHELM RITZERFELD GERHARD RITZERFELD "Mwah Jan. 5, 1960 w. Rn'zERFELn Erm. 2,919,640

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 14. 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 WILHELM RITZERFELD GERHARD RITZERFELD @Ja/4 Jan. 5, 1960 w, RITZERFELD ETAL 2,919,640

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAI SIACKABLE ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 14, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 WILHELM RlTzERFELD GERHARD RITZERFELD @MIMI Jan. 5, 1960 w. RrrzERFx-:LD E TAL 2,919,640

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 14. 1957 1l SheetSbSheet 5 fmfenzar:

WILHELM RITZERFELD GERHARD RITZERFELD Jan.v s, 1960 w. RITZERFELD ETAL PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT sTAcxABLE ELEMENTS 11 Sheets-Shoot 6 Filed Feb.' 14, 1957 fm/enr' `WlLHELM RITZERFELD G RHARD RITZERFELD W4/.mm

.mmf

Jan. 5, 1960 w. RlTzERx-'ELD ETAL 2,919,640

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 14, 1957 -11 sheets-6nd 7 wlLHl-:LM RITZERFELD GERHARD RITZERFELD Jan. 5, 1960 PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 14, 1957 ,iE-RL V mx gl u) WILHELM RITZERFELD GERHARD RITZERFELD w. RlTzERr-ELD ETAL 2,919,640

11 sheets-shut a Jan. 5, 1960 I w. RrrzERFELD Erm. 2,919,646

PRINTING DEVICE AND VFLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS MIL HELM RITZERFELD GERHARD RITZERFELD bmw #um Jan. 5, 1960 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 2,919,540

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE lELEMENTS 11 Sheets-#Sheet l0 Filed Feb. 14, 1957 f/WenO/t WILHELM RITZERFELD GERHARD RITZERFELD m44. zum

Jan. 5, 1960 wl Rrl-ZERFELD ETAL 2,919,640

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STCKBLE ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 14, 1957 11 Sheetssheet 11 ii i u @n .Im/antan' wnLHLM mTzERFELo ERHARD RITZNER FELD United States Patent() PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS WilhelmRitzerfeld, Berlin-Dahlem, and Gerhard Ritzerfeld, Berlin-Grunewald, Germany Application February 14, 1957, Serial No. 640,120` Claims priority, application Germany February 16, 1956 Claims. (Cl. 101-53) so as to be consecutively fed into a printing device of thev type set forth.

It is one main-object of this invention to provide for a tlat stackable element which can serve as a printing form or can be attached to a printing form, and which includes means for interengagement with feeding means forming part of a printing device, so that each of a plurality of such elements may be f ed singly from a stack of elements to the printing means of a printing device.

It is another object of this-invention to provide for a flat stackable element of the type set forth and comprising at least two ylayers ofmaterial, one of which includes they means for interengagement with a feeding device while the other layer serves to protect a at element of identical type superimposed on this second layer from being engaged by the feeding means engaging the firstmentioned element by separating the superimposed flat element from the feeding means.

Another main object of the invention is to provide for a printing device comprising magazine means and feeding means for at least one type of ilat stackable elements as set forth arranged in such a manner that at least one type of flat stackable elements is automatically and consecutively fed to the printing Vmeans of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide for a printing device of the type set forth which is composed of comparatively simple and sturdy elements which assure reliable and eicient operation.

With above objects in view, a flat stackable element according to the invention includes a separating layer and a projecting shoulder on one side of the separating layer adapted to be engaged by a feeding member from the side remote from the protective layer so that the feeding member is separated by the separating layer from another identical stackable element which is in a stack of these elements superimposed immediately upon the protective layer of the first-mentioned element.

In another embodiment of the invention, a printing form is attached to a supporting layer with a portion of the printing form covering an opening in the supporting layer so that an edge of this opening is adapted to be engaged by a feeding member and said portion of the printing form serves as separating layer, while another opening in the supporting layer located opposite to the printing portion of the printing form makes the latter accessible through the second opening for carrying out the printing operation.

In still another embodiment of the invention, flat stackable elements of the general type set forth include means forming a shoulder projecting from one layer of material forming part of the flat element so that this shoulder is adapted to be engaged by a feeding member while the layer of material is the separating layer.

A printing device according to the invention comprises in combination, a printing drum and a pressure roller cooperating with the printing drum along a printing line; the device further comprises at least one magazine means for stacking a set of at stackable printing elements having a protective layer and a projecting shoulder on one side of the protective layer, feeding means including a reciprocable feeding member adapted to engage the shoulder of the outermost flat printing element and to feed the same to the printing drum while the protective layer of the outermost printing element separates the feeding member from the printing element adjacent to the outermost element, engaging means for engaging the fed printing element and for holding the same on the printing drum during rotation of the same and linkage means connecting the feeding means and the printing drum for operation-in timed sequence with respect to each other.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention a printing device of the type set forth comprises second magazine means and second feeding means for handling at stackable imprint-receiving elements in the same manner as the printing elements, with linkage means connecting thesecond feeding means also with the printing drum for 'operation in timed sequence.

The novel features which are considered as characteristicrfor the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both las to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a printing form card in plan view, carrying reproduceable lettering in reverse;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken along line A-B of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a printing element with a printing form attached thereto; 4

Pig. 4 is a cross-section taken along C-D of Fig. 3; y

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a card having perforations I along its edges and a printing form attached thereto;

l two opposite edges;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken along line E-F of Fig. 5;

Pig. 7 is a plan View .of a card having perforations along its edges and a printing form attached thereto along Fig. 8 is a section taken along line G-H of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is also a section taken along line G-H of Fig. 7, however showing a permanent printing form added as a third layer; j

Fig. 10 is a section through an envelope with its ap partly open;

Fig. 1l is a similar section through an envelope with its ap -in closed position;

Fig. 12 is a section through an envelope with its flap wide open and including a slot for feeding;

Fig. 113 is a section through an envelope having a strip of material attached for forming a shoulder;

Fig. 14 is a section through a flat printing element with a strip of material attached for forming a shoulder;

Fig. l5 is a cross-section taken along line J-K of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a printing element showing reproduceable lettering in reverse and forming an integral unit with a protective layer;

Fig. 17 is a cross-section taken along line L-M of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a side view of a rotary duplicating machine including addressing devices, the left side wall being omitted for showing the inner mechanism;

Fig. 19 is a top view of the printing device according to Fig. 18;

Fig. 2O is a fractional side View of the device according to Fig. 18, illustrating the feeding means for printing elements according to Figs. 1 to 9 and 14;

Fig. 21 is another fractional side View of the machine according to Fig. 18, illustrating on a larger scale the feeding means as provided for envelopes or the like according to Figs. 10 to 13;

Fig. 22 is a fractional section of the device shown in Fig. 18, the section being taken along line P-Q of Fig. 21, for illustrating details of the feeding means for envelopes;

Fig. 23 is a plan view of a printing element including openings adapted to be engaged by feeding means and in addition including separate openings adapted to be engaged by clamping means for holding the printing element on the printing drum;

Fig. 24 is a cross-section through the printing element according to Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a fractional view of the means for feeding the printing elements to the printing drum and of the means for clamping the elements to the drum;

Fig. 26 is a side view of a printing device, the left side wall being omitted in order to show the inner mechanism; and4 Fig. 27 is a top view of the device according to Fig. 26.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, a printing element for printing addresses comprises a card 1 which constitutes the printing form since it carries reproduceable lettering 2 in reverse. It is provided with a cutout or opening 3 which is covered by a ycover ap 4 attached to the card 1 as shown at 5. As will be described later, an edge of the opening 3 is adapted to be engaged by a feeding member 50 from the side opposite to the flap 4 which serves as separating layer preventing the feed member 50 from engaging the adjacent printing element in a stack of elements. Therefore, whenever the feed member 50 engages one printing element of a stack, only this one element will be removed from the stack and fed to the printing device of which the feed member 50 is a part.

Figs. 3 and 4 show another printing element 6 Vconstituting an addressing card to which the printing form with reversed reproductive lettering 8 is attached at 7. The card or support layer 6 has an opening or cutout 9 which is so located that the printing portion 2 of the printing form is not obstnucted by the material of the card 6. This olers the advantage that the lettering 2 does not rub against an adjacent or following printing form during the automatic feeding operation. During the actual printing operation the imprint-receiving sheet is pressed against the printing form in such a way that the reproductive area 2 contacts the sheet through the opening 9 for making the desired imprint. The card or support layer 6 has two additional cutouts or openings 1@ which are covered by a portion of the printing form 8. For this purpose the printing form 8 is cut in four places marked 11 so that iiaps 12 are obtained which are pulled from the side of the card 6 where the printing form 8 is attached, to the other side and folded down so as to be attached at 13 to the card 6 and to cover the openings 10. The two openings if) are adapted to be engaged by two feed members which will be described further below. By providing two openings and two feed members the printing element 6 is sure to be maintained in straight position dt ring the feeding operation. lt should be noted that the cernenting areas 7 and 13, respectively, holding different edges of the printing form 8, are located on opposite sides of the sul port layer 6.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a printing element comprising a card or support layer 14 having a number of perforations along its outside edges and a cutout or opening 15. A printing form 16 with reverse reading reproductive lettering 2 is attached by cernenting at 1S to the card 14 so that the lettering 2 is opposite the opening 15 and accessible thro-ugh this opening during theV printing operation. The card 14 has a second opening 17 which is adapted to be engaged by a feeding member 50. An eX- tension. or ap 19 of the printing form 16 is pulled through the opening 15 from one side of the card to the other and spread over the latter so as to cover the opening 17. In this manner the ap 19 serves as a separating layer to separate the feed member 50 when engaging the opening 17, from engaging the adjacent printing element. The free end 19 of the printing form is purposely not attached to the card 14 so that the flap may yield a little when the feed member 50 engages the element. Nit is generally advisable to attach printing forms with reverse lettering only at one side, i.e. along one edge facing in the feeding direction whereby a satisfactory imprint is favored and wrinkling of the printing form is avoided.

The use of cards with marginal perforations as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 as supporting layers of printing elements offers the advantage that whenever certain printing elements are needed out of a great pluralityI thereof, the selection of specific cards carrying a specific lettering, is greatly simplified. l v

Figs. 7 and 8 show a card or supporting layer 20 also having marginal perforations and having attached to' 1t a printing form 21 carrying a reverse reading reproductive lettering and attached by cernenting along two opposite edges 22. The card 2t) has an opening or cutout 23 adapted to be engaged by a feed member 50 while the printing form 21 acts as protective layer forseparatmg the feed member 50 from an adjacent printing element.

The same type of a card -20 as illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8 may also be provided, as shown in Fig. 9 with a permanent printing form 24 which may consist of a paper foil 24a which in turn is connected with a metal foil 24h. This metal foil may be treated by an electrolytic process, but instead of the just-mentioned combination 0f paper and metal foil other printing foils made only of metal or synthetic resin may be used which may be treated for lithographie reproduction.

Figs. 10 and 1l illustrate in cross-section envelopes 25 and 26, respectively. In the case of Fig. l0, where the iiap 27 of the envelope is partly open, the envelope, being also a hat stackable element, can be fed by means of a feeding member 67 engaging the envelope by reaching into the space between the layer 25a and the ap 27. ln this case, the flap 27 constitutes the projecting shoulder adapted to be engaged by the feeding means. In the case of Fig. ll where the ap 28 is folded tight against the envelope 26 the free edge of the flap 28 serves as shoulder for engagement by the feeding means.

Figs. l2 and 13 show also envelopes 29 and 3ft, respectively, with their aps 31, 32, respectively, stretched out in fully open position. ln order to make these envelopes adapted for automatic feeding, the envelope 29 has a cutout or opening 33 in one of its two layers so that the opening 33 is adapted to be engaged by a feed member 50. When the envelope is closed, the flap 31 covers the hole 33. ln the case of Fig. 13 a separate strip of material 34 is attached to one layer of the envelope so that one edge of the strip 34 constitutesa shoulder adapted to be engaged by a feed member. When the envelope 30 is closed the free edge 0f the ap 32 will fit exactly against the second edge of the strip 34.

Figs. 14 and l5 illustrate a printing form 3S carrying a reverse reading reproductive lettering and has attached to it a strip of material 36, cemented at its two opposite ends 37 so as to constitute a shoulder adapted to be en gaged by a feed member 50 which may enter between the strip 36 and the printing form 35 so that the latter acts as a separating layerV separating the feed member from an adjacent printing element. It should be noted that envelopes may also be provided with a strip 36 as shown in Fig. 15.

' In the case of Figs. 16 and 17 a printing form and a protective layer are one integral piece. The printing form 38 is provided on one side with a reverse reading reproductive lettering 2 and is folded back upon itself along the edge 39. The folded back portion has a large opening 41 which is located so that the lettering 2 is accessible through the opening 41'.l The folded back portion which containsthe opening 41 serves at the same time as the protective layer of this printing element because itl covers two cutouts or openings 40 in the first portion of this element. In this embodiment the reproductive printing surface of the printing form 38 is particularly well protected against rubbing during feeding operations because the printing surface is located at the bottom of the opening 41. v

It should be understood that the essential features of the various printing elements and envelopes'as examples of at stackable elements are more or less interchangeable and can be varied to suit prevailing conditions. In particular, the position of the means offering a shoulder adapted to be engaged by a feed member, with respect to the reproductive printing surface of the printing form may be varied without departing from the basic idea of this invention. In certain cases the printing elements or other flat elements may be stacked with the abovementioned shoulder located on the lower side of each individual element so that the feed member has to engage from underneath and remove from the stack always the lowermost element. In certain other cases the arrangement may be reversed so that the feed member removes fiom the stack always the uppermost element.

It is particularly o f advantage to use address cards having the features described above i.e. a feeding shoulder or an opening with an edge constituting a feeding shoulder, and a second layer serving as a protective'layer in the feeding operation, said cards being also provided with a reverse reading reproductive lettering. Such lettering can be placed on such a card directly for instance by typing with interposition of a hectographic ink sheet; otherwise a different type of reverse reading printing form may be attached to such an address card to form a unit. In this case the separate printing form might be either of the hectographic type or it may be a printing form requiring inking in the printing process and from which the'lettering is reproduced directly or indirectly according to the lithographie process.

It should be noted also, that printing elements according to this invention and with the means making them adapted for being engaged by a feed member of the printing device may be made of comparatively thin material so that substantially larger quantities of these elements can be stacked without creating a stack of excessive height. A magazine of given size can hold many more of these elements than was possible with known devices in this class. For instance, a single layer of material used for the printing element may be only .004 thick.

As far as the feeding of imprint-receiving elements, particularly envelopes, is concerned, known feeding systems were based on the use of rather complicated and expensive suction-type feeding means because no other v means for reliable feeding were known to the art. On

the basis of the present invention, even the just-mentioned type of elements can be fed reliably with very simple means. Even airmail envelopes of thin paper material can be handled satisfactorily.

Figs. 18 to 22 illustrate a printing device according to the invention. This device comprises an automatic feeding section for instance for address cards 14 which is shown in greater detail in Fig. 20, the address cards being shown for instance in Fig. 5. The device further comprisesa-anautomatic feedingsection for imprint-receiving.

6 elements, for instance of envelopes 25 (see Fig. 10), pay envelopes orV the like as illustrated by Fig. 18. Address cards, for instance those marked 14 in Fig. 5, are fed automatically in the following manner: attached to the printing drum 43 is a cam disc 42 which is engaged by ber 50 into its operative position in which it projectsl with its engaging tip 51 through a slot 94 into the magazine' slightly -above the inner surface of -the bottom 49. If a stack of address cards 14 is stacked in the magazine as shown in Fig. 20, the engaging tip 51 engages the opening 17 of thelowermost card or printing element 14 so that during the feeding stroke of the feed member 50 this lowermost printing element 14 is moved through an outlet slot of the magazine towards the printing drum 43 and is taken over by a pair of feed rollers 53. The card 14 is then engaged between the rollers 53 and the drum 43 and carried by the drum 43 into engagement with a second pair of feeding rollers 54. Both pairs of rollers 53 and 54 are pressed by springs 55 against the drum 43 and are thereby adapted to hold the printing elements in engagement with the printing drum only for the purpose of feeding them towards a guide plate 56 which leads the elements to a printing line N O which is located where the printing drum 43 is engaged by the pressure roller 57.

The imprint-receiving elements' as, for instance, envelopes 25 (Fig. 10) or the like are automatically fed into the printing device in the following manner: Attached to the printing drum 43 is a second cam disc 58 which is engaged by a cam follower attached to a lever 59 turnable about a pivot 60 and connected through a link 61 to a second lever 62 turnable about a pivot 64.

The lever 62 engages at 63 the feeding device for the imprint-receiving elements. During rotation of the drum 43 the cam 58 causes the linkage 59, 61, 62 to oscillate which movement is converted into a reciprocating movement of the feeding device along a guide bar 65 mounted underneath a plate 66 forming the bottom of a magazine 78. The feeding device comprises a fiat feed member 67 which is adapted to engage the lowermost envelope 25 of a stack thereof placed in the magazine 78, and more particularly the forward edge of the member 67 enters into the space between the partly opened feeding stroke of the feeding device the lowermost envelope is moved out of the magazine 78 through an out let slot 99 towards the printing drum and into engagement with a pair of feed rollers l68, 69. These rollers are driven from the printing drum and/or the pressure roller 57 by means of an intermediate roller 70 and move the fed envelope to the printing line N-O. It is evident that due to the cam discs 42 and S8 being attached in a selected relative position to the drum 43, the address cards 14 carrying the printing form and the envelopes 25 are caused to arrive and to meet at the printing line N--O in the desired relative position for producing the desired imprint in the desired area of the surface of the envelope.

After the address card or printing element 14 and an envelope 2S have passed through the printing line a separator member 71 projecting into the path of the jointly moving card and envelope separates these two elements from each other. For this purpose the separator Theenvelope 25 lands on the delivery vplate 74 while the card 14 is engaged by a pair of rollers 75 resiliently engaging the drum 43 and is moved thereby over a guide plate 76 into a collecting tray 77.

The stack of address cards or printing elements 14 in the magazine 49, and likewise the envelopes or imprintreceiving elements 25 in the magazine 78 are weighted down by plates 79 and S0, respectively. The three magazines or trays 49, 77 and 78, respectively, are removably attached to the printing device so that after their removal the machine can also be used as a regular rotary duplicating machine. The leverage 44, 45, 46 can be moved into an inoperative position by a crank 81, and similarly the lever 59 can be made inoperative by a crank 82. The pairs of feed rollers 53 and 54 can be moved into an inoperative position by means of the control screws S3. The pair of rollers 75 can be swung away by turning an excenter button S4. The cam discs 42, 58 and 73 can be adjusted angularly with respect to each other and the drum 43 whereby the location of the imprint on the imprint-receiving element can be predetermined.

As shown in Fig. 19, the magazine 78 is movable in transverse direction on the plate 66 along slots 85. For locking the magazine 78 in a selected position a clamping screw 86 is provided. Also, the magazine 49 and the collecting tray 77 are movable in transverse direction along supporting bars 87 and 83, respectively. Clamping screws 89 and 90, respectively, are provided for locking the magazine and tray in a selected position. The magazine 49 is shown in Fig. 19 in a transversely displaced position only for the sake of clarity of the drawing. lt is evident that for regular operation of the printing device, the magazine 49 is placed in a position substantially in line with the magazine 7 8 and the tray 77.

Fig. 20 shows the automatic feeding device for the address cards 14 or printing elements at a larger scale. The engaging hook-shaped tip S1 of the feed member 50 is forced by a spring 93 through a slot 94 in the bottom plate of the magazine 49 into an opening 17 of the lowermost card 14 in the magazine, as was already mentioned above. The second layer 19 of the card 14 acts as a separating layer and prevents the adjacent or superimposed card 14 from being taken along by tip 51 when the lowermost card is moved out of the magazine by feed member 50 whose tip 51 engages the edge of opening 17. The height of the slot 9S forming the outlet from the magazine 49 is adjustable so that at any time it permits only one printing element 14 to pass through the slot 95. When the feeding device starts its return stroke, the engaging tip I. of the member S0 is guided by its inclined rear face engaging the edge of opening 18 to turn feed member 50 until tip 51 moves out of the opening 17 of the just-fed card and swings slightly downward so that it may slide along the rear portion of the lowermost card 14 and then along the surface of the adjacent or superimposed card 14 until it can move up again under the action of the spring 93 to pass into the hole 17 of the just mentioned next card which is now the lowermost card. In case conditions are different, the tip 51 may slide past the opening 17 during the last portion of the return stroke and move into the opening 17 only shortly after the beginning of the next feeding stroke.

Fig. 21 illustrates the automatic feeding device for imprint-receiving elements or envelopes 25 or the like at a larger scale. For the purpose of obtaining a faultless feeding operation, the feed member 67 is made turnable. A spring 96 forces the member 67 against the lower layer of the lowermost envelope 25 and thereby facilitates the engagement of the member 67 by entering into the space between the partly opened flap 27 of the envelope 25. A roller 97 mounted on the member 67 engages a slanting guide bar 90 so as to roll along the latter while the feeding device together with the member 67 travels within a slot in the plate 66, the member 67 being controlled in such a manner that its forward end may pass f' through the outlet slot'99 of the magazine '78. The height' of the slot 99is to be chosen in such a manner that at any time only one element or envelope 25 can pass through it.

The second layer of the envelope 25 (see Fig. 10) actsA stroke is completed the member 67 moves back into its starting position.

As is 'shown in Fig. 22, the envelopes 25 are forced by strips 100 and 101 arranged laterally in the magazine 7S and by the weight plate 80 to bend or bulge downwardly. The adjustable front plate 102 of the magazine 70 is shaped at its lower edge in accordance with the above mentioned bending or bulging of the envelopes 25 and is provided with two projections 103' which determine the height of the slot 99. By these means a satisfactory turning down of the flap 27 of the envelope into an open position is assured.

As is illustrated by Fig. 23, the address card or printing element 106 is provided with two cutouts or openings 107 which are located near .to the forward edge of the card and parallel with each other, but outside the area occupied bythe printing form 108 carrying a reverse reading reproductive lettering. In addition, the card 106 is provided with two cutouts or openings 107e which serve for feeding thel card and are adapted to be engaged by a feed member as described above. These openings 107C: are covered by the printing form 108 on the side on which the printing is done.

In the printing device as shown by Figs. 25 to 2.7, a feed member 50 feeds the cards 1016 in a manner simiiar to the lone described above towards .the printing drum and into the path of a hook-shaped gripper member 109 which is mounted on the shaft 110 in the drum 43 for turning movement. The gripper 109 is shown in Fig. 26 in engaging position, and in dotted lines in inoperative position and in an intermediate positon ready for engaging a printing element V106. The free end of lthe gripper 109 is connected by a link 111 to a lever 112 turnable about a pivot 113 mounted in the drum 43. The lever 112 is rigidly connected with a second lever 114 which carries a cam follower engaging a stationary cam disc 118 mounted around the shaft 122 of the drum 43. The

leverage comprising the members 109, 111, 112 and 114' is under the action of a spring tending to move the gripper 109 into its operative or engaging position. The spring also maintains the engagement of the cam follower of lever 114 with the cam 118. Due to the action of the just-mentioned cam control the hook-shaped gripper 109 engages the card 106 in the position shown in Fig. 25 by passing through the opening 1127 and pressing down on the upper surface of the card 106 so as to hold it on a supporting portion slightly recessed from the drum surface. After this, the printing drum 43 continues its revolution with the gripper 109 holding the card 106 firmly on the drum and transporting the card by engaging the edge of opening 107 until the drum carries the card to the printing line N-O which is passed by the card in synchronism with an envelope 25 or other imprint-receiv-v ing element which has been fed to the printing line by the feed member 67 and the feed rollers 63 and 69. After the printing operation the envelope 25 or the like lands on the collecting plate 74. The card 106', however, is re-v leased from the drum by a backward swing of the grippers 109 into their inoperative position located outside of opening 107 before thecard is engaged by the pair of rollers 75. The backward swing of the grippers 109 is effected by the rise of the cam 11S in the particular position of the drum. The card 106 is then moved through the engagement between the drum 43 and the roller 75 past the guide plate 76 into the collecting tray 77. After the gripper 109 has passed the area of the collecting tray 77, the gripper is swung due to the action of the cam arrangement again into its engaging position Tin which yaiaezid it was at the beginning of the operational cycle just dei described.

The printing device according to Figs. 26 and 27 is also provided with means permitting a number of consecutive printing voperations to be carried out with one and the same printing elements. For this purpose the cam 118 is moved transversely so that the cam follower at the end of lever 114 does not project on its circular path during rotation into an area occupied by the cam 118. This movement is effected by turning a crank 119 turnablegabout the axle 122 of the printing drum. The crank 119 is connected with at least one projecting member 120 which turns only together with the crank. Slide pieces 121 are arranged for sliding in grooves 123 extending at an angle to the axle 122 within a bushing 124. A spring 125 prevents the bushing 124 and the cam disc 118 from turning. Due to this arrangement the bushing 124 and the ycam disc 118 move in axial direction along the axle 122 when the crank 119 is turned, until the bushing 124 is temporarily locked in position by a spring loaded ball 129 engaging a corresponding notch 126. Now the spring 115 holds the gripper 109 in its operative position engaging the card 196 and clamping it on the supporting member 127. If the lever 119 and with it the member 120 are turned in the opposite direction, the cam 118 is moved back into its normal position in which it is held by the ball 129 engaging a notch 130 under the action of the spring 128.

It should be noted that in the element 106 the printing portion ofthe form 108 is depressed into the pertaining opening, so that the lettering is protected.

It is to be understood that the printing devices according to the invention can be constructed and used in various ways. The feeding of stacked printing elements is carried out most efficiently by the automatic feeding device described and adapted to feed the individual printing elements of the type disclosed in consecutive order. The

imprint-receiving elements can be fed in a similar manner automatically and consecutively from a stack and in timed relationship with the feeding of the printing elements and with the rotation of the printing drum. However, it is likewise possible to feed the imprint-receiving elements by hand.' Finally, the automatic feeding devices can be temporarily made inoperative and, if necessary, the various magazines and collecting trays may be removed so that the printing device can be used as a regular duplicating machine.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful ing and imprint-receiving elements, it is not intended to' be limited to the details shown, since various modications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will sov fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others canl by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning andv range of equivalence of the following claims.

What Iis claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A printing device comprising, in combination, a printing drum; a pressure roller cooperating with said printing drum along a printing line; a first magazine means for stacking a set of flat stackable printing elements having a separating layer and a projecting shoulder on one sideof the separating layer; a first feeding means including a first reciprocable feeding member adapted to engage the projecting shoulder of the outermost iiat printing element and to feed the same to said printing drum with the separating layer of said outermost printing element separating said feeding member from the printing element adjacent to said outermost printing element; engaging means for engaging the fed printing element and for holding the same on said printing drum during rotation of the same; a second magazine means for stacking a set of fiat stackable imprint receiving elements having a separating layer and a projecting shoulder on one side of the separating layer; a second feeding means including a second reciprocable feeding member adapted to engage the projecting shoulder of the outermost flat imprint receiving element and to feed the same to said printing drum; and linkage means `connecting said first and second feeding means and said printing drum for operation in timed sequence and including control cam means for controlling said first and second feeding means, means connecting from control cam means with said printing drum for rotation therewith Valong a circular path in a timed sequence and including means for holding said cam means in a plurality of positions angularly displaced with respect to said drum, actuating means arranged so as to project into said path to be engaged by said control cam means at a selected point of said path in relation to a selected position of said printing drurn during the rotation thereof, and linkage elements connecting said actuating means with said first and second feeding means, respectively, so that said feeding means are operated when said printing drum is in said selected position, and so that thertimed sequence between the operation of said drum and the operation of said feeding means can be selected by setting said control cam means to different angularly displacedpositions.

2. A printing device comprising, in combination, a printing drum; a pressure roller cooperating with said printing drum along a printing line; a first magazine means for stacking a set of flat stackable printing elements having a protective layer and a projecting shoulder on one side of the protective layer; a first feeding means including a tirst reciprocable feeding member adapted to engage the projecting shoulder of the outermost flat printing element and to feed the same to said printing drum with the protective layer of said outermost printing element separating said feeding member from the printing element adjacent to said outermost printing element; engaging means for engaging the fed printing element and for holding the same on said printing drum during rotation of the same; a second magazine means for stacking a set of fiat stackable imprint receiving elements having a protective layer and a projecting shoulder on onev side of the protective layer; a second feeding means including a second reciprocable feeding member adapted to engage 'the projecting shoulder ofthe outermost at imprint receiving element and to feed the same to said printing drum, said reciprocable feeding member including a reciprocable carrier member and a gripping member supported by said carrier member for angular movement between an engaging position in which said gripping member engages said projecting shoulder during a feeding stroke of its reciprocating movement, and a disengaged position in which said gripping member is out of engagement with said projecting shoulder during a return stroke, and means tending to move said gripping member into its engagingposition, said gripping member being formed with a guide edge portion remote fromthe axis of its angular movement, said edges portion being adapted to slide along the-exposed surface of the.

outermost fiat stackable element whereby said gripping member is moved into its disengaged position during said printing drum; a pressure roller cooperating with said' printing drum along a printing line; a rst magazine means for stacking a set of hat stackable printing elements having a separating layer and a projecting shoulder on one side of the separating layer; a rst feeding means including a first reciprocable feeding member adapted to engage the projecting shoulder of the outermost fiat printing element and to feed the same to said printing drum with the separating layer of said outermost printing element separating said feeding member from the printing element adjacent to said outermost printing element; engaging means for engaging the fed printing eicment and for holding the same on said printing drum during rotation of the same; a second magazine means for stacking a set of liat stackable imprint receiving elements having a separating layer and a projecting shoulder on one side of the protective layer; a second feeding .eans including a second reciprocable feeding member adapted to engage the projecting shoulder of the outermost flat imprint receiving element and to feed the same to said printing drum, said reciprocable feeding member including a feeding element movable in opposite directions while in contact with the outermost stackable element for engagement with said shoulder and for disengagement therefrom, respectively, said element being additionally movable transversely to said reciprocating movement so that at the beginning of its feeding stroke it is in a starting position of said transverse movement and moves into its end position of said transverse movement gradually during its feeding stroke in the course of which it engages said shoulder, and returns to said starting position during the return stroke of said reciprocating movement.

4. A printing device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said feeding element is a flat member having a forward edge facing toward said printing drum, and a rear edge parallel therewith, said hat member being tiltable about an anis substantially parallel with and adjacent to said rear edge.

5. A printing device comprising, in combination, a printing drum; a pressure roller cooperating with said printing drum along a printing line; a rst magazine means for stacking a set of flat stackable printing elements having a separating layer and a projecting shoulder on one side of the separating layer; a rst feeding means including irst reciprocable feeding member adapted t engage the projecting shoulder of the outermost at printing element and to feed the same to said printing drum with the separating layer of said outermost printing element separating said feeding member from the printing element adjacent to said outermost printing element; engaging means for engaging the fed printing element and for holding the same on said printing drum during rotation of the same, said engaging means including at least one holding element adapted to hold one of said flat printing elements on said printing drum by reaching from one side of said printing element through an opening thereof said holding element being turnably mounted on said printing drum for movement between a holding position in which it is adapted to pass through the opening in the printing clement for holding said flat printing element for movement with said printing drum, and a disengaged position in which it is swung towards the interior of said printing drum so as to release said printing element, and actuating means for actuating said 1holding element and being mounted on said printing drum for rotation therewith along a circular path, control carri means stationarily .mounted so as to project into said path to be engaged by said actuating means at a selected point of said path in relation to a selected position of said printing drum during the rotation thereof, and linkage elements Connecting said actuating means with said holding element, so that said holding element is operated when said printing drum is in said selected position, said control cam means and said actuating means being adjustable with respect te each other in axial direction of said printing .drum :between an operative position in which said control cam means projects into said path, andan inoperative position in which said control cam means is spaced from said path so that during consecutive 'revo-1 lutions of said printing drum a fed printing element remains on said drum for repeated reproduction without another printing element being fed to the printing drum; a second magazine means for stacking a set of flat stackable imprint receiving elements having a separating layer and a projecting shoulder on one side of the protective layer; a second feeding means including a second reciprocable feeding member adapted to engage the projecting shoulder of the outermost flat imprint receiving element and to feed the same to said printing drum; and linkage means connecting said first and second feeding means and said printing drum for operation in timed sequence.

6. A printing device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said holding element is adjustable in direction parallel with the axis of said printing drum to a plurality o-f -positions so as to be in a position corresponding to the location of said opening in said hat printing element.

7. A printing device comprising, in combination, a printing drum; a pressure rollercooperating with said printing drum along a printing line; magazine means for stacking a set of ilat elements having a separating layer and a projecting shoulder on one side of the separating layer; feeding means including a reciprocating feeding member, and resilient means urging said feeding member into a position adapted to engage said separating layer and the projecting shoulder of the outermost element for feeding the same to said printing drum and pressure roller; linkage means connecting said feeding means with said drum for operation in timed sequence and including control cam means for controlling said feeding means, means connecting said control cam means with said printing drum for rotation therewith along a circular path in a timed sequence and including means for holding said cam means in a plurality of positions angularly displaced with respect to said drum, actuating means arranged to project into said path so as to be engaged by said control cam means at a selected point of said path in relation to a selected position of said printing drum during the rotation thereof, and linkage elements connecting said actuating means with said feeding means so that said feeding means are operated when said printing drum is in said selected position, and so that the timed sequence between the operation of said drum and the operation of said feeding means can be selected by setting said control cam means to different angularly displaced positions.

8. A printing device comprising, in combination, a printing drum; a pressure roller cooperating with said printing drum along a printing line; magazine means for stacking a set of flat elements having a separating layer and a projecting edge on one side of the separating layer; feeding means including a reciprocating feeding member, and resilient means urging said feeding member into a position adapted to engage' said separating layer and the projecting shoulder of the outermost element forffeeding the same to said printing drum and pressure roller, said feeding member being in Contact with the outermost element for engagement with said edge and for disengagement therefrom, respectively, said feeding member being movable transversely to said reciprocating movement so that at the beginning of its feeding stroke it is in a starting position of said transverse movement and moves to the end position of said transverse movement during the feeding stroke for engaging said edge, said feeding member returning to said starting position during the return stroke of said reciprocating movement, said feeding element having a hook-shaped tip having a rst edge leading during the feeding stroke and adapted to engage said edge of the fed element, and having a second edge inclined to the direction of reciprocating movement and to the direction of transverse movement and adapted to engage said edge of said element during the return stroke so that said feeding element is moved transversely to the said starting position during the return stroke of said reciprocating movement; and linkage means connecting said feeding means with said drum for operation in timed sequence.

9. A printing device comprising, in combination, a printing drum; a pressure roller cooperating with said printing drum along a printing line; a iirst magazine means for stacking a set of tlat stackable printing elements having a separating layer and a projecting shoulder n one side of the separating layer; a rst feeding means including a first reciprocable feeding member adapted to engage the projecting shoulder of the outermost at printing element and to feed the same to said printing drum with the separating layer of said outermost printing element separating said feeding member from the printing element adjacent to said outermost printing element; engaging means for engaging the feed printing element and for holding the same on said printing drum during rotation of the same, said engaging means including at least one hook-shaped holding element adapted to hold one of said at printing elements on said printing drum by reaching from one side of said printing element through an opening thereof, said hook-shaped holding element being turnably mounted on said printing drum for movement between a holding position in which it is adapted to pass through the opening in the printing element for holding said at printing element for movement with said printing drum, and ,a disengaged'position in which it is swung towards the interior of said printing drum so as to release said printing element, and actuating means for actuating said hook-shaped holding element and being mounted on said printing drum for rotation therewith along a circular path, control cam means projecting into said path of said actuating means so as to be engaged by said actuating means at a selected point of said path in the relation to a selected position of said printing drum during the rotation of the same, and linkage elements connecting said actuating means with said holding element so that said holding element is operated when said printing drum is in said selected position.

10. A printing device comprising, in combination, a printing drum; a pressure roller cooperating with said printing drum along a printing line; a first magazine means for stacking a `Jet of hat stackable printing elements having a separating layer and a projecting shoulder on one side of the separating layer; a tirst feeding means including a rst reciprocable feeding member adapted to engage the projecting shoulder of the outermost at printing element and to feed the same to said printing drum with the separating layer of said outermost printing element separating said feeding member from the printing element adjacent to said outermost printing element; engaging means for engaging the feed printing element 4and for holding the same on said printing drum during rotation of the same, said engaging means including at least one hook-shaped holding element adapted to hold one of said flat printing elements on said printing drum by reaching from one side of said printing element through an opening thereof, said hook-shaped holding element being turnably mounted on said printing drum for movement between a holding position in which it is adapted to pass through the opening in the printing element for holding said iiat printing element for movement with said printing drum, and a disengaged position in which it is swung towards the interior of said printing drum so as to release said printing element, and actuating means for actuating said hook-shaped holding element and being mounted on said printing drum for rotation therewith along a circular path, control carn means projecting into said path of said actuating means so as to be engaged by said actuating means at a selected point of said path in the relation to a selected position of said printing drum during the rotation of the same, and linkage elements connecting said actuating means with said holding element so that said holding element is operated when said printing drum is in said selected position; a second magazine means for stacking a set of Hat stackable imprint receiving elements having a separating layer and a projecting shoulder on one side of the protective layer; a second feeding means including a second reciprocable feeding member adapted to engage the projecting shoulder of the outermost at imprint receiving element and to feed the same to said printing drum; and linkage means connecting said feeding means and said printing drum for operation in timed sequence.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

